Chapter 1

“You’re not real,�?Jerry snarled as the shadows swirled in the corner of the room.

He sat in his recliner, watching television, trying to ignore the faces that mocked him in the darkness. Immersed in the blue light that spilled from the screen, his body could have easily passed for a cadaver. They giggled at him from just inside his peripheral vision, but if he dared to turn and look at them, the shadows would solidify against the wall.

Guilt can play tricks on the mind, at least that’s what Jerry’s shrink kept telling him. Yeah, as if he knows what real guilt feels like. Jerry was sure his grip on reality was slipping. The faces taunted him everywhere he went, and no amount of Haldol was going to make them go away. The fact that I know they can’t be real should be enough to tell me I’m not crazy, right?

“My dear boy, we have seen what you’ve done. We always see them as they go. We are always with you. We are always--watching,�?they called from the corner.

“Go away!�?/P>

“But, we want to see more. We need to see more. Entertain us.�?/P>

“Stop it! Stop bothering me,�?Jerry barked, staring at the wall in the direction of the voices to give himself a moment’s peace.

“We want to be entertained. Dance for us. Do your Dance so we might see,�?they called out from the shadows behind the TV. “Dance so we might--live.�?/P>

“For the love of God, just leave me be!�?he cried out, clasping his hands over his ears while squeezing his eyes shut.

“Your strength gives us strength. Your life gives us purpose. The Dance gives us--pleasure.�?/P>

The light of the TV prevented his eyelids from shutting out the images of the room. Shadows Danced before his eyes, causing him to strain harder to keep them shut for fear of what he might see. How could they be between him and the TV? Didn’t they live in the shadows?

“Open your eyes,�?a woman’s voice urged, the sound slithered its way between his fingers.

Jerry began to whimper as the icy fingers of fear gripped his heart. “This isn’t real. This isn’t real. You’re all in my mind.�?/P>

“Then open your eyes. If it isn’t real, you will still be alone here in your living room,�?the lady said, moving her mouth inches away from his left hand.

He could feel her breath brush against his fingers.

“Why won’t you just let me be?�?Jerry’s voice broke as he began to sob.

He had seen things, he knew he shouldn’t, for years, but it had never been as bad before. Seeing things that weren’t there was one thing, but feeling them, now that was something all together different.

“Because, no one else can do those things you do. Dance for me, lover. Make an old soul’s heart go pitter patter.�?She caressed his cheek, the touch sent shivers through him.

A shadow was now blocking every inch of light from reaching his face. He let his left eyelid crack open, just a sliver. He glimpsed a set of full-pouty lips, hovering before him. He let his eyes open fully, hoping to end the illusion. She didn’t disappear. Her skin was so pale it was almost translucent. The only color in her face was the red in her lips. Look at those beautiful lips, so inviting, so moist, so-- tasty. What I wouldn’t do for a taste of those lips--

“Of course, lover--if you will but Dance for me, I will let you taste anything you desire.�?She tossed her head, her long black hair swung over her right shoulder.

“But I don’t want to do your Dance anymore. It is only a matter of time before someone figures out what I’m doing. They will come for me. It will be like it was before.�?/P>

“Do you really still think it’s a matter of want? You will Dance for me.�?Her face hardened into a scowl.

Jerry hung his head in shame, her words rang true. He needed to do his Dance like his mother needed heroin.

“What shall I call you?�?Jerry didn’t have the strength to argue.

“You may call me whatever you want, but my name is Ryla,�?she whispered as she sat in his lap.

He could feel her there, but she was light as a feather. This isn’t real. I’m just sick; my mind is still jacked. I should call Dr. Pearlman.

“Your mind is fine, more than that--it’s brilliant.�?She attempted to quell his unspoken fears. “Will you Dance for me?�?/P>

“I will try, but these things take time. I have to find just the right partners. I have to plan and prepare. I have to--�?/P>

“I have taken care of all that for you, lover. I found the perfect couple. They are waiting for you, anxious to see what wonders you have to share with them.�?/P>

“How did you--�?/P>

“Shh.�?She placed a finger over his lips. “Now is not the time for those sorts of questions.�?/P>

“I will gather my things,�?Jerry relented, not sure if he had a choice.

“That would be splendid, lover. I will be here, waiting with baited breath.�?/P>

Jerry went to his bedroom, stepped into the closet. He finally emerged with large canvas duffle bag slung across his shoulder. He knelt beside her, intoxicated by her fragrance as it floated on the air.

“Where do you want me to Dance this time?�?He stared at her expectantly as she ran her fingers across his bare chest.

“Come; I will show you, lover.�?She jumped to her feet, extended her hand to him. A smile spread across her face when he accepted.

“May I presume the partners you found will live up to my usual expectations?�?Jerry let out a long breath; God knew he really didn’t want to do this anymore.

He would have prayed for guidance, but he was sure his words would fall on deaf ears. They always had.

“Of course, now let’s be gone. This is only the beginning; there are so many people who could benefit from your Dance. You know we mustn’t keep them waiting.�?/P>

“Yes, by all means, let’s not inconvenience them.�?/P>

And so, the Dance begins again.

Chapter 2

Jerry scrubbed his hands in the bathroom sink. He cranked up the hot water in hopes of letting the steam obscure his reflection in the mirror. He desperately didn’t want to see the scratches on his face. Hell, I can’t bear to look at my face, period. Not after the way I botched that one.

“How could you be so careless?�?Ryla stood in the doorway, arms folded across her chest.

“She didn’t want to Dance with me,�?Jerry replied. “Can you blame her?�?/P>

“It was very sloppy that time. I want it to be graceful, like it was before.�?She stepped behind him, traced a heart on his back with a fingernail. “You remember how it was before, don’t you?�?/P>

“If you hadn’t been laughing so hard, they wouldn’t have woke up before we were ready.�?His anger grew by the second, anger at himself, her, the world--everything.

“They couldn’t hear me. Neither of them moved until you told me to shush.�?/P>

“You’re so full of it,�?Jerry snapped, yanking a towel from a ring mounted on the wall next to the sink.

“Oh, really? Maybe you should think about what happened again and we will see what actually happened.�?Ryla pressed her fingers over his eyes from behind.

Jerry struggled to no avail. Her hands were so small it was unimaginable that she could overpower him, but it was as if her grip was on his mind rather than his head. Images rushed by him in a blur. As they slowed to a halt, he realized he had just witnessed the night’s events in reverse order. He found himself kneeling with Ryla behind a row of bushes. He could still smell the aroma of damp earth wafting up and mixing with the fragrance of the brush. It must have rained earlier, but he couldn’t remember when.

He started to rise when he saw a shadow cross behind the curtains in the window above them, but Ryla placed a restraining hand on his forearm.

“Now is not the time,�?she whispered, shaking the finger of her other hand at him.

They waited for what seemed like an eternity before she motioned for them to move. He carefully reached for the windowsill, tried to press it open.

“It won’t budge. Let’s try another one,�?Jerry whispered after a few attempts.

“No, the more time we spend out here, the greater the chances become that someone might see us.�?Ryla wrapped her arms around him and placed her right hand over his face.

When she removed her hand, they were standing in a darkened bedroom of the house. There were two forms lying motionless beneath the covers.

“I would like to introduce you to Carl and Terri.�?She gestured to the bed.

How did you do that? he mouthed to her silently.

She only laughed in reply.

“Shh!�?Jerry insisted, causing movement from the bed.

“You had better tend to that,�?Ryla teased in a playful voice. “But, don’t forget your steps. I love to watch you Dance.�?/P>

His heartbeat quickened in his chest as he lunged at Carl just as he sat up in the bed. Jerry slammed his hand over Carl’s mouth to stifle the scream he knew was sure to come. Before he could subdue him, Terri sprang up from beneath the covers, clawing at his face. Jerry let go of the man to protect his face from her whirlwind assault. He fell to the ground beneath a powerful blow to the side of his head. Carl had snatched the lamp from the nightstand beside the bed, swung it with all the might he could muster from his precarious position. Jerry curled into the fetal position, covering his head with his arms to protect himself while he gathered his wits. He waited for blows that never came. He stumbled to his feet and looked around the room for Ryla.

“How did you do this? I thought you said you couldn’t do the Dance by yourself,�?he called out as he looked down at the blood soaked bed.

“I didn’t do it by myself. I merely helped you do what needed to be done.�?She cast him a quizzical glance.

Carl still sat in bed with his back and head leaning against the headboard. Jerry didn’t need to look into his vacant eyes to know he was dead. The cut along his belly that let his innards spill out over the blankets was more than enough evidence, he was no longer among the living.

Terri wasn’t in the bed, which gave Jerry a terrible start. Did she get away? What if she makes it to a phone? Are the police on there way even as I stand here wondering what to do ? He looked down at his blood-covered hands. His shirt was absolutely soaked with the dark sticky liquid. The aroma triggered something in him that must be what most people would experience if they smelled a fresh cut rose.

“Oh, Loverboy!�?Ryla called from the hallway.

Jerry sprinted towards her voice. He found her standing at the top of the stairs, motioning for him to look over the railing. As he approached, he could see one end of a sheet tied to the rail, Terri’s ankle fastened securely to the other end. She shared the same fate as Carl, gutted like a fish. It appeared Ryla had been particularly brutal with her slaying. Jerry felt sorry for her as he watched her body gently swinging above her living room floor.

Ryla released her grip from his eyes, snapping Jerry out of his trance. Jerry turned to face her, wondering why he found her so mesmerizing. A tiny voice nagged at him from the depths of his mind. It told him she should repulse him. He should see what a monster she was by what she had done. She didn’t even take the time to enjoy The Dance. He squashed the voice. How could I find her repulsive? She and I share the same love, the same needs, the same desires.

“I still don’t understand how you were able to kill those people. You said you couldn’t--�?He let her take his hand in hers.

“I already told you that I didn’t do it; you did the Dance for us, sloppily but you still did it,�?Ryla said in a husky voice.

“That’s impossible! I was laying on the floor, trying to keep my ass from being handed to me.�?/P>

“Really? Then why are you covered in blood?�?She batted her eyes at him coyly.

“You must have spilled it on me when you gutted Carl,�?he answered as he stomped into his bedroom.

“Whatever,�?Ryla said in a dismissive voice. “Is that really what you want to believe? I guess I can understand. The truth of most any situation can be a little hard to handle if your heart isn’t really into what you’re doing.�?/P>

“I’m not saying I wouldn’t have enjoyed it, but we both know, I had nothing to do with what happened in there.�?/P>

“If that’s what you have to tell yourself to sleep at night.�?/P>

“Sleep--yes, I should get some rest. We have a busy day tomorrow.�?

He flopped onto his bed, covered his face with his forearm.

“Yes, we need to practice your steps. They have gotten rusty from lack of use.�?/P>

He just lay there, stewing. The events of the night still troubled him. Even if he did kill that couple, still other things didn’t make sense.

“How did you carry me into the house?�?/P>

“I think that’s enough contemplation for the night, lover.�?Ryla stroked his face.

As she rubbed his face, a voice filled his thoughts, urging him to relax. He found it hard to resist. His eyes grew heavy, the need for answers faded away.

Perhaps this will all make more sense tomorrow.

Chapter 3

“Hello?�?Tom Wiley answered the phone after he picked it up from the floor. He had knocked it there when it woke him from his slumber.

“Tom, sorry to bother you at this hour but I thought you might want to see this.�?/P>

“What is it? Do we have a homicide?�?/P>

“It’s--it’s--you will just have to come see for yourself, man.�?

“It’s ok, Jack. Give me the address.�?He snatched a pad and pencil from his nightstand.

He was dressed and out the door in a flash. There was something in Jack’s voice that told him this wasn't an ordinary murder scene. Jack Henson had been with the department for over a decade and had never reacted like that to a murder scene. Hell, the man is a rock.

Tom walked by the police officers standing in the yard, barely acknowledging their nods. Jack met him at the door of the master bedroom. He was rubbing his jaw with a shaky hand.

“He’s back, Tom,�?was all he could manage after clearing his throat several times.

“Who’s back?�?/P>

“The Puppeteer,�?Jack replied in a whisper.

Tom knew what he was about to witness before he ever stepped foot in the room. The bodies of Carl and Terri Joyner stood at the foot of the bed, stripped of all of their clothing, bound together by heavy duty fishing line. They were standing almost completely erect, held up by wires attached to the ceiling fan. Their killer took the time to wind the line through their arms, legs, even the tops of their heads. So many lacerations covered their bodies, The Puppeteer would have had no problems finding places to attach his strings.

“Send this to the lab for analysis. The Puppeteer always used blades, not blunt objects. Maybe one of our victims was able to leave us a clue.�?Detective Wiley pointed to the broken lamp on the floor by the nightstand.

“What’s it been seven, eight years?�?Jack collected himself enough to return to the room.

“Yeah, about eight,�?Tom answered absentmindedly as he continued to search for evidence.

“I just assumed he died or something. The way the murders just stopped like that. Serial killers don’t just quit on their own.�?Jack shoved the lamp into a plastic sack.

“Well, he appears to be as alive and unwell as ever,�?Tom quipped, as he studied the bloodstains on the CD player by the bed.

“He always did like to listen to music while he ‘worked�? didn’t he?�?

“Plenty of prints on there, maybe he has gotten sloppy in his old age,�?one of the investigators observed as he took pictures of the crime scene.

“Those aren’t his. I am sure he made one of them push the buttons.�?Tom waved in the direction of the couple in the middle of the room.

“The Press has arrived, right on time.�?Jack groaned as he spotted the news van pull up outside the window.

“Keep them out of here. We can’t let the details of this one get out. It’ll start a panic that will sweep across the entire city,�?Tom snapped at one of the officers by the door.

“They should be panicked.�?Jack watched the EMTs lower the bodies to the floor.

“I know that and you know that, but they, they don’t need to be none the wiser. I like our sleepy little city just the way it is,�?Tom replied with a shake of his head.

“You mean the way it was?�?Jack sighed as he put his hands in his pockets.

“Yeah, the way it was,�?Tom conceded with a sigh of his own.

“We’re gonna get this son of a bitch, Tom. He’s ours this time; just you wait and see.�?They walked out of the house and into the flashing bulbs of cameras.

“What happened in there, detective?�?a reporter demanded as the others vied for his attention.

“No comment,�?Jack replied while Tom ignored the man.

“Come on fellas, give us something,�?one of them urged, reaching for Tom’s arm as they walked by.

“Keep your hands to yourself!�?Tom shouted, pushed the man hard, sending him sprawling to the grass.

#

“You’ll get your quote when we have something to tell you,�?Jack told him as he helped the man to his feet.

“What did you see in there that shook Wiley up so bad?�?The reporter dusted off his slacks.

“Off the record?�?/P>

“Of course,�?Mark replied, his voice almost giddy with excitement.

Jack looked at him for a moment, wondering if he was truly so callous that he could be excited over the death of another human being if it meant he had a juicy story to print. He hoped it was just he didn’t understand the gravity of what happened in that house. He had known Mark Sampson since high school and had always thought of him as a stand up guy. I guess ambition can ruin even the best intentions.

“A glimpse of what hell must look like, Mark. Just give us some time and we will give you a story, but don’t push him right now, okay?�?Jack watched Tom get in his car.

“So--would you say it was worse than anything you ever seen before?�?Mark pressed with a grin.

“Goodnight, Mark.�?Jack laughed as he walked away.

#

Please let me wake up in a few minutes and see that this is just a nightmare, Tom prayed as he steered his car towards home.

Nearly ten years ago he had walked into the living room of an apartment and stared at the birth of a monster. Two women, suspended by fishing wire, became the first victims of this maniac. The Puppeteer had tied their bindings through holes punched in the ceiling. With their mouths pulled open and back, sewn into smiles and their upper eyelids tied to their bangs, they looked more like props from a horror film than people. At the time, he had wondered if they were still alive, when the fishing line was weaved through their limbs. The coroner later confirmed, the wounds were post-mortem. He was ashamed for being relieved by that little fact when their deaths were clearly still brutal.

He received a call to a similar scene once a month for two years. The crime scene changed but there were always two victims and their faces all shared the same twisted smile. It wasn’t enough they performed for him; he wanted them to enjoy the experience. As abruptly as they began, the murders just stopped. Month after month went by without so much as a hint of his return. The city began to relax, return to normal, letting out a collective sigh of relief. The killing time had passed, or so they thought.

“Sick bastard.�?Tom spat the words as he threw his keys on the coffee table. “Why couldn’t you have just stayed away? What brought you back to us?�?/P>

He grabbed a towel from the counter and wiped out a glass from the sink before retrieving a bottle of Jack from the cupboard.

Yeah, this ought to do the trick. He knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep of his own accord after what he had witnessed.

#

The sun was just coming up as the empty bottle fell from his fingers. He sat up on the edge of the couch and held his head in both hands. The room was spinning, but that wasn’t what was really troubling Detective Wiley at the moment.

“No, I guess it wasn’t a dream. The maniac has come home,�?he said to the empty room as he replayed the scene from the night before over and over in his mind.